Stone Roses to return with songs and shows

After days of fevered speculation, the band, which had repeatedly refused to entertain a reunion after their split in 1996, confirmed yesterday they had buried their differences and will play two shows in Manchester next year, along with other dates around the world.

Bass player Gary Mounfield, who will be taking a break from his work with Primal Scream, said: “There’s something magical happens when us four are in a room together. You can’t put your finger on it. It’s just so beautiful to get hold of it again.”

The news was met with delight by many fans, including former Oasis star Liam Gallagher, who said on Twitter: “Stone Roses getting back together – not been this happy since my kids were born.”

The band, famed for tracks such as Fool’s Gold and I Am The Resurrection, are due to play Manchester’s Heaton Park on June 29 and 30, tickets to go on sale on Friday.

Brown said the hope was to release an album at some point. “We’ll keep writing and if it hits our standards we’ll go with it. We’re not here to destroy anything. It’s as precious to us as it is to someone who has followed us for years,” he said.

The band said the decision was not financially motivated.

“The money’s always been on the table,” Brown said. “We could have took that money any time we wanted. Every year, two, three times a year we’ve had offers all the way down the line.”